PREMIUM NAMES

WHAT ARE .NYC PREMIUM NAMES?

A Premium Domain Name is a high value web address that has been reserved by the .nyc Registry. These include popular keywords and generic terms that are highly searched for and/or brandable marketing terms and call-to-action phrases that create and drive web traffic.

HOW MUCH DO .NYC PREMIUM NAMES COST?

The Registry charges all registrars identical premium fees, which are factored into the price paid by .nyc registrants, however, each registrar may determine its own markup. The fees charged for .nyc Premium Names by the registry are set based on a variety of attributes including, name length, industry, potential usage, among others. Please note that each registrar determines the retail price they will charge. Please check with your preferred .nyc Retailer for further details regarding the price of specific .nyc premium domain names.

HOW AND WHERE CAN I REGISTER A .NYC PREMIUM NAME?

Registering a .nyc Premium Name is exactly like registering any standard domain name from your preferred .nyc Retailer. Simply visit one of a growing list of retailers, type in the name you’re interested in, put it in your cart and pay for it. The only difference is price. This allows you to put your new domain name to work right away.

CAN I REGISTER A .NYC PREMIUM NAME THROUGH A “BUY NOW” OR AFTERMARKET SERVICE?

A subset of .nyc Premium Names, referred to as the “.nyc Super Premiums”, are the most memorable, searchable and sought-after domain names in the .nyc namespace. These names have been made available through domain marketplaces, or aftermarket providers, with premium pricing. Currently, the .nyc Registry has listed the .nyc Super Premium names through Afternic and Sedo. You may check for your desired .nyc web address on their website or with your favorite .nyc Retailer as both Afternic and Sedo include the majority of the most reputable registrars and resellers within their distribution networks.

WHY ARE CERTAIN .NYC PREMIUM NAMES GOING THROUGH AN AUCTION PROCESS?

While the vast majority of premium names are available for real-time purchase through .nyc Retailers, a select few were reserved for public auction. These names will come to market during a set of online and/or offline public auctions with approximately 20 similarly themed domains at a time, grouped by verticals and interest categories. More information about the .nyc Auctions and the auction schedule may be found at AUCTIONS.NYC.

WHAT IS THE .NYC PREMIUM AUCTION SCHEDULE?

.nyc Premium Names will be auctioned off to the public in a series of on-and off-line auctions. The .nyc Auctions will be held throughout the year at various times to coincide with various themed interest categories or groups specific to New Yorkers. To learn more about the .nyc premium auction schedule please visit AUCTIONS.NYC

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT .NYC PREMIUM AUCTIONS?

Further information regarding schedules, specific domain names, auction terms and conditions and auction provider partners may be found on our dedicated auction website at AUCTIONS.NYC.

WHAT IS THE .NYC REGISTRY DOING TO SAFEGUARD TRADEMARKS THAT MAY APPEAR ON THE .NYC PREMIUM LIST?

While it is impossible to guarantee how a domain name will be used, the .nyc Registry based its premium list off of highly-trafficked generic terms and keywords reducing the likelihood that domain names will be targets for cybersquatters. We took care in devising the .nyc Premium Names lists and do not seek to profit unfairly off of the registration of registered trademarks. Notwithstanding, as it is possible for generic words or phrases to be registered as trademarks, a limited number of .nyc Premium Names may correspond to registered trademarks. For these marks, Trademark Holders will still receive claims notices for the first 90-days after the release of .nyc Premium Names if their marks are registered by a third party, and may choose to take action if such registrations occur in an infringing manner. Ongoing, the .nyc Registry has implemented rights protection mechanisms as stipulated by ICANN – the Uniform Rapid Suspension and the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy.

WHY ARE CERTAIN NAMES HELD BACK, OR RESERVED, AND DO NOT SHOW UP ON THE .NYC PREMIUM LIST?

Domain names may currently be withheld for number of reasons. The .nyc Registry has established business procedures around these domains according to ICANN’s best practices and policies. Domains may be reserved by the City of New York, for use by city-affiliated entities. A number of domain names have been restricted from registration by ICANN. Additionally, the .nyc Registry has also reserved names for promotional and/or other strategic purposes, and/or for its or its affiliates’ internal use.

DEFINITIONS

WHAT IS A DOMAIN NAME?

A domain name is a unique word or phrase in a particular format that allows people to find information on the Internet. The Domain Name System maps domain names to servers where the content resides, based on each server's Internet Protocol (IP) address (for example, 192.0.2.53 or 2001:503:A83:0:0:2:30). Instead of accessing information by IP address, a domain name allows people to navigate to Web sites and send email using familiar, easy to remember names (i.e. Example.nyc).

WHAT IS A PREMIUM DOMAIN?

WHAT IS A DOMAIN NAME REGISTRY?

For the Internet to function and to prevent duplication of web addresses there has to be one authoritative place to store registration information for domain names in a specific domain name extension. Each extension (example: “.nyc”) has an authoritative registry, which manages a centralized database. The registry inputs the information about domain names in zone files to enable communication over the Internet for applications like credit card processing, bank transactions as well as Web browsing and email. A registry provides this service to registrars who accept registrations from domain name registrants.

WHAT ARE DOMAIN NAME REGISTRARS?

Registrars provide domain name registration services directly to registrants such as helping them find, register, renew, and delete domain names. They send the information to the registry for entry into the centralized registry database.

Accredited Registrars of the .nyc Registry are those registrars that not only have been accredited to do business by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and have also executed a Registry-Registrar Agreement (RRA) with the City of New York.

WHAT IS A .NYC REGISTRANT?

A .nyc registrant is a company, organization or individual who registers a .nyc domain name.

WHAT IS WHOIS?

Every registry is required to maintain a WHOIS database with details about registered domain names as well as contact information about the owners of such names. For each registered domain name, the publicly available WHOIS database includes the following information: domain name; registrar of record; the registrar’s referral URL; last updated date; contact details for Registrant, Administrative, Technical and Billing; and name server information. The .WHOIS database maintained by Neustar is the authoritative directory for all domain names registered in the .nyc namespace.

IF I HAVE A P.O. BOX IN NEW YORK CAN I REGISTER?

REGISTRATION PROCESS AND POLICIES

WHERE CAN I REGISTER .NYC DOMAIN NAMES?

.nyc domain name registrations are available through registrars that have been accredited to do business by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and have also executed a Registry-Registrar Agreement (RRA) with the City of New York. nyc web addresses may also be offered by resellers and hosting providers that operate under a contract with one of the accredited registrars.

IF I DON’T SEE MY PROVIDER LISTED AS AN ACCREDITED .NYC REGISTRAR, CAN I STILL REGISTER MY .NYC DOMAIN NAME WITH THEM?

.nyc domain names are available through directly accredited registrars and their resellers. If your registrar is a reseller of a directly accredited .nyc registrar you may still be able to register your domain name with them. To check whether your provider offers .nyc domain name registrations, please visit their site directly.

The .nyc TLD has compelling interest in ensuring that its top-level domain is administered in a secure manner and that the information contained within .nyc is reliable, accurate, and up-to date. One of the mechanisms to ensure the integrity of .nyc is the maintenance of a complete and accurate WHOIS database. A complete and accurate WHOIS database promotes New York City’s interest in preventing identity theft, fraud and other on-line crime, in promoting the public’s ability to police its rights against unlawful copyright and trademark infringement, and avoiding technical mishaps. This includes ensuring a smooth transition of domain names in the event that registrar goes bankrupt or otherwise becomes incapable of performing its obligations under the .nyc Registry-Registrar Agreement.

The Registry Operator employs an algorithm to detect the inadvertent or intentional registration of proxy, anonymous and/or private domain name registrations, and enforces a Registrar’s obligation to not offer such services to .nyc domain name registrants.

CAN I USE A TRUSTEE SERVICE TO OFFER .NYC DOMAIN NAMES TO MY CUSTOMERS?

As a registrar or reseller of .nyc domain names, you may not offer a Trustee Service to your customers to meet the Nexus Policy. The City of New York desires to have only those individuals or entities having a physical street address in the City be permitted to register for .nyc domain names. For information on the Nexus Policy and the physical address requirements for customers and clients, please click here.

DOMAIN NAME AVAILABILITY

HOW DO I DETERMINE THE AVAILABILITY OF A .NYC DOMAIN NAME?

CAN I REGISTER .NYC DOMAIN NAMES IN OTHER LANGUAGES?

Yes. Currently, you may register .nyc domain names in Spanish. Other languages may be added in the near future. Please check back for additional updates.

CAN I REGISTER MORE THAN ONE .NYC DOMAIN NAME?

Yes! You may register as many .nyc domain names as you would like.

WHY ARE SOME DOMAIN NAMES UNAVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION?

Domain names may be unavailable for one of several reasons:

The domain name was previously registered by a trademark owner in the Sunrise Period;

The domain name is reserved for use by the City of New York;

The domain name is a premium .nyc domain name;

ICANN requires that the domain name be indefinitely; or

ICANN requires this domain name to be temporarily reserved as part of its framework for mitigating the risk of domain name collisions.

Some of the names that are reserved as part of ICANN’s plan for mitigating domain name collisions that are not otherwise reserved by the city or the registry may be released upon completion of the mandatory reservation period, which concludes on November 16. We will make more information available on our FAQ page once the process for releasing these names are made known.

We may also make premium .nyc names available for registration at a later date. We will provide more information regarding premium domain name sales here as these domains are made available.

WHAT IS A CITY AFFILIATED RESERVED .NYC DOMAIN NAME?

Prior to the launch of the .nyc top level domain, the City of New York reserved a list of .nyc domain names for use by certain city-affiliated entities and organizations. The “City Affiliated List” generally consists of domain names related to key geographical landmarks, entities, locations, people and organizations. The City Affiliated List may be viewed here.

HOW CAN I REGISTER A CITY AFFILIATED .NYC DOMAIN NAME?

New York City residents can propose public interest uses for domains on the City’s reserve list, found here. These proposed sites should benefit fellow New Yorkers and be a resource for the city. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for public use of a .nyc domain, please complete the application here.

GENERAL AVAILABILITY PERIOD

WHO IS QUALIFIED FOR GENERAL AVAILABILITY?

All businesses, organizations and residents with a physical address in the City of New York shall be entitled to register .nyc domain names in real-time on a first-come, first-served basis.

ANY ADDITIONAL POLICIES FOR GENERAL AVAILABILITY?

For the first ninety (90) days of General Availability, in the event that a domain name registrant applied for a domain name that is an exact match of a trademark appearing in the Trademark Clearinghouse, the registrant will receive a notice about that trademark during the registration process and asked whether or not it wishes to proceed with the registration. If it does, the name will proceed to registration, but may subsequently be challenged by the Trademark owner through an ICANN dispute resolution procedure if the name is likely to cause confusion with the trademark.

WHEN DOES GENERAL AVAILABILITY BEGIN?

General Availability opens October 8th 2014 at 15:00:00 UTC.

WHAT IS THE GENERAL AVAILIBILITY PRICE FOR A .NYC DOMAIN NAME?

General Availability pricing will set individually by .nyc Registrars and Resellers. The Registry charges all registrars an identical wholesale fee, which is factored into the price paid by .nyc registrants, but each registrar may determine its own markup. The fees charged by the registry are $20 a year, per domain. Please note that this pricing is the wholesale price – each registrar determines the retail price they will charge. Please check with your registrar for further details regarding the price of .nyc domain names.

DOMAIN MANAGEMENT

HOW CAN I TRANSFER MY .NYC DOMAIN TO ANOTHER DOMAIN NAME REGISTRAR?

To transfer your domain name to another registrar, you will need an Authorization Code (also called “Auth-Code”) – or domain password for verification and security purposes. Please contact your registrar to begin a transfer request and receive current registrar transfer policies. For security purposes, the .nyc Registry does not issue or confirm Auth-Codes to registrants for registered .nyc domain names.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY .NYC HAS EXPIRED?

If your domain name expired, you need to contact your registrar about renewing. If you don’t know who your registrar is, you may search the WHOIS database for your domain name. The results will show the registrar responsible for registering your domain name so that you can contact them.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF SOMEONE INFRINGES ON A TRADEMARK I OWN WITH A .NYC DOMAIN NAME?

If you believe that your trademark rights are being infringed upon by someone who has registered a .nyc domain name, you can contact the domain owner directly by finding their contact information on the .nyc WHOIS. If direct contact does not resolve the conflict, then you have the option to utilize the Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) or the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) which have been mandated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for domain dispute resolution.

REGISTRAR ACCREDITATION

HOW DO I BECOME A .NYC ACCREDITED REGISTRAR?

Direct Accreditation is available solely to ICANN Accredited Registrars. For more information on ICANN Accreditation, please go to ICANN’s website at www.icann.org. If you are already an ICANN Accredited Registrar, you may contact us to get more information on the technical requirements and policies for the accreditation process to offer .nyc domain names to your customers or resellers.

DIDN'T FIND YOUR ANSWER?

The City of New York is the official operator of the .nyc top-level domain. Since the historic launch of .nyc, the City of New York has become the first city in the country with a top-level domain, creating new opportunities to support local businesses, organizations and residents. Through .nyc, the City will generate revenue, help residents take advantage of government services, encourage local businesses to thrive, market and promote tourism, and spread the dynamic image of New York City around the world.

Neustar, Inc. supports all marketing efforts and operates the technical infrastructure of the .nyc domain. The company provides full technical, operational, policy, and marketing support for .biz and .us. Neustar also operates technical registry services for .co, .tel and .travel and worldwide registry gateways for other top ccTLDs. Neustar offers Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) in 17 languages and provides comprehensive managed DNS and full-scale registry services with 24/7 customer support on five continents.